Everyone by now must have seen Muto the epic eight minute stop frame animation from Italian artist Blu. Well, to my delight he’s just completed a new film as part of the Fame festival which kicked off in Grottaglie Italy on the 19th of September this year. It’s called Combo and this time it’s a collaboration with David Ellis who has been making similar animations as part of Barnstormers since 1999.
Alex Geoffrey
Posted on Tuesday, 29th of September 2009 Permalink
I recently came across this online. It’s a website dedicated to simplifying various film posters. Although you may not recognise a lot of them, it doesn’t take away from the pleasure of seeing these things translated so beautifully into basic geometric forms. If only everything in life could get the same treatment.
Alex Geoffrey
Posted on Thursday, 24th of September 2009 Permalink
I’m guessing that a 90-minute documentary about industrial food production is probably not at the top of your movie list at the moment, but this one should be. Despite having no narrative structure and no voiceover, Our Daily Bread, directed by Nikolaus Geyrhalter is visually stunning and surprisingly engaging.
The star of the film is industry itself – impossibly fast production lines of animals, gigantic machines that spray acres of crops and endless greenhouses that flood produce with 24hr light. Humans play a minor role, weeding out the rare imperfections in the machine’s work.
Geyrhalter frames his subject matter with a perfectly symmetrical and objective eye whether it’s the beauty of a salt mine or the barbarism of an abattoir. We are left to our own conclusions about food production but it’s impossible not to feel both impressed and revolted at how efficient and unnatural it has become.
David Rainbird
Posted on Thursday, 17th of September 2009 Permalink
For those who missed the screening of Beautiful Losers at the ICA, from this week the DVD is available for purchase from here. The movie celebrates the spirit behind one of the most influential American cultural movements of a generation, rooted in the DIY subcultures of skateboarding, surf, punk, hip-hop and graffiti. The loose-knit group had amongst it’s ranks heavyweight creative powerhouses: Harmony Korine; Mike Mills; the highly influential graffiti artist Margaret Kilgallen (above image); and many more besides. Well worth a night in front of the box.
Nathan Usmar Lauder
Posted on Wednesday, 26th of August 2009 Permalink
Described by the BFI as “among the most audacious public safety films ever made” The Finishing Line is a twenty-minute horror story warning children about the danger of trespassing, vandalising and playing on train lines.
The film depicts a boy’s fantasy of a school sports day event held on the railway tracks and its gory consequences. What starts out as a bucolic summer fete with a brass band and refreshments ends in blood-stained carnage. The first five minutes here shows the first casualty, by the end of the film all the children are either dead or horrifically injured, and lined up on the tracks.
Made in 1977 by British Transport Films, it sparked immediate controversy and prompted a national televised debate about the potential effect on children. I was one of those children who saw it (I was nine at the time) and I can safely say that whilst it was traumatic, I’ve never forgotten it or it’s message.
David Rainbird
Posted on Friday, 21st of August 2009 Permalink
Becoming briefly the most stylish stuntmen ever, Noah Sakamoto and Patrick Rizzo don suits by Adam Kimmel and hurtle down an open road in Claremont, CA. The white-knuckle ride, promoting Kimmel’s Spring Summer ’09 collection, is directed by the Sonoma artist Ari Marcopoulos. Hang on to your lunch as you watch them dodge traffic in both directions and trade the camera between them. (via The Moment)
David Rainbird
Posted on Monday, 29th of September 2008 Permalink
Seeing David’s earlier post, titled ’Flaming Logos’, it was clear that a lot of work was put into recreating those 80s motion graphics logos. Plenty of 3D and a good dose of Flame or After Effects I’d wager.
After Effects, Schmafter Effects. Check out how they did this back in the day…
Who needs Maya when you’ve got 6 craftsmen sweating night and day over 3 months, a motion control camera from the ark, and some old school ingenuity.
Hey, I know it’s a 10 minute video, but trust me it’s worth it just for the soundtrack… Altogether now, “Pay a little closer attention to detail…All the things you’re taking for granted… Are just as important as what you see”
Gary Butcher
Posted on Thursday, 13th of March 2008 Permalink
Time to brush up on your design history: Pentagram asked Hillman Curtis to make a short film about them. At the start Paula Scher narrates the partners’ various comings and goings (and demises) at breakneck speed – pay attention at the back!
Did you know that although named Pentagram for the five partners in 1972 (Alan Fletcher was reading a book on black magic at the time) the name only made sense for two years, when they grew to six? Mind you, with seventeen partners now, Pentagram sounds better than Heptadecagram. Link (via Core77)
David Rainbird
Posted on Saturday, 1st of December 2007 Permalink
Two guys forced to remake hollywood greats coz they’ve wiped all the tapes in their video store, a questionable plot to say the least. But when the two guys are Jack Black and Mos Def and it’s directed by the genius that is Michel Gondry how can it fail? Out in December, it’s sure to be a D.I.Y Christmas hit, I’m off to remake Jaws in my bath with a tortilla chip, some toothpicks and a yoghurt pot. See the trailer here
Dave Brown
Posted on Saturday, 11th of August 2007 Permalink
While we are on the subject of infographic videos, a heart full of regret, an oversized suit from your Brother, not baring your butt in public, hamster death & virgins are all part of Le Grand Content, a beautiful and amusing film by Clemens Kogler together and Karo Szmit.
Dave Brown
Posted on Friday, 9th of February 2007 Permalink